Despite mutual desire, Jaquan Brisker's market value could price him out of Chicago, signaling a potential departure from the Bears' secondary.
The offseason brings contract decisions for the Chicago Bears to make.
Multiple key players are set to become free agents without a new contract. Two of the bigger names among the Chicago players whose contracts expired are Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard.
Brisker and Byard have already made their intentions known when it comes to re-signing with the franchise. The safeties want to be Bears for the foreseeable future.
General Manager Ryan Poles has also spoken about the possibility of bringing both players back. The Bears selected the safety in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Penn State.
Brisker just had 93 total tackles, one sack, one interception and one TFL this past season. Even though both parties clearly want him to return to the Bears, Brisker's market value may be too much for Chicago to re-sign him.
ESPN's Dan Graziano believes an extension may not be in the cards for the former second-round pick.
“The 2022 second-round pick still doesn’t have an extension, which isn’t the best sign in terms of his future with a team that has a ton of offseason decisions to make," Graziano said. "It sounds to me as if Brisker will have an outside market that prices him out of Chicago.”
Bringing Brisker wouldn't hurt with how inconsistent the secondary was for Chicago at times in 2025. The Bears allowed the 11th-most passing yards per game (239.4).
The secondary was also decimated with injuries for considerable amounts of time. Kyler Gordon had hamstring, groin and calf injuries take up most of the year for him. Jaylon Johnson suffered a groin injury in Week 2 and didn't return until Week 13.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson was signed by Chicago to play nickel corner with Gordon's injuries, but he is now a free agent. Nahshon Wright is also hitting the free agent market this offseason.
Aside from the secondary, players like Olamide Zaccheaus, Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet and Andrew Billings are out of contracts.
The Bears will have to decide on left tackle, too.
Ozzy Trapilo's patellar injury could not be healed until late in the 2026 season, via Poles. Jones or Benedet could be re-signed, but Chicago may need to bring in a veteran short-term until Trapilo can play.
The Bears are also preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, which is set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It will be held from April 23-25, with the Bears holding the 25th overall pick.